Category Archives: Nomique

Following 10 years at Riverside Studios, Leeds, we’ve undertaken a reboot of our working showroom to highlight current and emerging trends in workplace design as well as showcasing some products that, quite simply, we like too much not to show! Launched at our CoWo15 Reboot event last Thursday, the new showroom can now be officially revealed. So, if you were unable to attend the event last week; this is us. Welcome to our World!

Our reception area now features a selection of leather classics from Vitra, Knoll Studio and Walter Knoll, showcasing designers such as Charles and Ray Eames, George Nelson, Eero Saarinen and Preben Fabricius and Jørgen Kastholm. Piero Lissoni’s luxurious Avio sofa system by Knoll Studio provides the central statement piece.

From KI, the EC4 bench system keys into the current biophilic design trend and features solid oak splayed legs and a matching laminate edge detail to give a softer and more naturalistic look. In common with other KI systems it incorporates a sturdy metal understructure with a comprehensive cable management trough. Intended as an agile work/meeting base we’ve completed the bench with CMD’s Inca power/charger unit. Inca has been designed with communal working areas and meeting rooms in mind. Four usable faces allow users easy access to power and USB charging regardless of where they are positioned around the table.

Sit-stand workstations are increasingly a requirement rather than a luxury and more systems are entering the market to suit a variety of budgets. We’re showcasing Vitra’s Tyde system by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, in our opinion one of the better back-to-back systems with its clever cable management solution and accessories.

Also from Vitra and again by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec is the Alcove Cabin. The Alcove Cabin provides a secluded space, enclosed on all sides and accessible through a single opening. It provides visual and acoustic privacy for small meetings at the table and power connections and lighting allow it to serve as a fully-fledged workspace. Alcove was the original high back sofa concept; copied many times it has sparked a small revolution in workplace meeting areas developing into the agile working ethos.

The agile working theme continues into our new breakout space with the ADD modular sofa and table and Kipu stools from lapalma. ADD’s slimline aesthetic belies its strong structure. The area is nicely screened by the Howe Spaghetti wall providing a psychological barrier that is open enough to invite you into the space and yet also provides a modicum of privacy.

Are you sitting comfortably? Are you sure? Here’s a chair that will actually tell you!

Human beings are not designed to sit at a desk for long periods of time. Good posture with enough movement is crucial to reduce common workplace ailments such as back or neck pain, headaches and fatigues. Even if you sit on a good ergonomic chair, it’s often not used or set up correctly (in fact 67% of users do not adjust their chairs). The Axia Smart Chair by Nomique was designed with this in mind.

The Axia Smart Chair works like a personal sitting coach, giving users feedback on their sitting behaviour and posture. Feedback raises the users’ awareness of their posture and this in turn leads to an improved over all posture and a healthier style of working.

So how does it work?

The Axia Smart Chair features four sensors in the seat and two sensors in the back. These sensors distinguish between 7 seating positions and register how often and how long the user makes contact with the backrest and seat and whether they are moving enough or sitting in one posture for too long. An electronic label is fixed to the seat side and allows users to review their seated posture over the last hour. The label also shows the live seating position and overall seating score. Furthermore, a vibrating signal in the seat indicates when a user is sitting in a physical aggravating position for too long. This tactile reminder will raise the users’ posture awareness. The vibrating trigger can also be used as a reminder to get up and move around for a few minutes or do some in chair exercises.

Of particular interest to facility managers, occupational health advisors and HR managers will be the Smart Hub/Smart Cloud add-on system. Here, all details about posture and occupancy levels of each Smart Chair are automatically sent to the online Smart Cloud. Smart Hubs, which are installed throughout the office receive the recorded data of each stair and send it to a gateway. Through the gateway the collective data is send to the Smart Cloud. Simple to use software makes it easy to access the recorded group and individual data online in real time and allows the user to combine and/or compare company wide, floor level or department details. The extensive reporting options of the Smart Cloud make it a useful tool to not only analyse the staff’s sitting habits but also occupancy levels. The Smart Cloud can be used for occupation and configuration plans to improve workstation management and usage.

So far so good. But what about the chair itself?

Well for a start the Axia 2.0 range has been credited both reddot and iF design awards as well as the FIRA ergonomic excellence award. The simple design is quite appealing with a distinctive back that tapers towards the top and provides space for the shoulders to move comfortably. Our first impression before any adjustment was that the Axia would be a satisfying sit. Just a couple of minor adjustments were required before the Smart Chair system indicated a correct (and very comfortable) posture.

The Axia 2.0 is a modular range with interchangeable parts. There are 6 chair back options; mid, high, padded, executive, breathable mesh and auto back angle adjustment. The Axia 2.2 High back option fits 98% of users making it an ideal project chair. All of these options utilise the patented synchronised Axia 1:1 mechanism, based on the principle of pelvic support. Here the pelvis is prevented from rotating, encouraging relaxed support and a dynamic posture. With dual operating levers, the chair can be adjusted from the left or the right. The armrests do not move with the tilt of the mechanism to ensure optimal support of the arms to keep shoulder and neck relaxed. A patented split seat mechanism, allows only the rear part to tilt back whereas the foremost part of the seat remains horizontal. This alleviates pressure on the legs, keeping the feet firmly on the floor.

Want to know more? We’ll be showcasing the Axia range in our Leeds showroom very soon. Check back here for further info or register your interest via the contact form.